Three Ways To Write Blog Posts
Being a preacher and a pastor, you get taught a valuable lesson when it comes to growing church by keeping your visitors and inspiring them to come back week after week. I think it applies to blogging too.
You can write blog posts one of three ways:
1. Preach them full.
Give everything you’ve got, and then give them more than the need. 10 reasons for this, 39 tips for that, 15 ways to do naught. Stuff them full of content. Sure they are full and you have satisfied the need, but in doing so you have eliminated what drove them to you in the first place: hunger.
This is like when you write a post that is a complete thought, and the only comment people can leave is “great post”. You’ve removed the curiosity, the debate, the battle – the hunger. And hunger is the reason why they come back for more.
I’ve written a lot of these posts. Hey, I wrote one this week.
Then there’s the second way:
2. Preach them hungry.
Don’t just provide information – change the mindset. Inspire people to think for themselves in new ways. You only give them enough food to create an even deeper hunger and curiosity. In fact, the point isn’t really to feed them – it is to teach them to feed themselves in ways they never thought possible.
This is like when you write a post that is a uncomplete thought – because you need the comments of your connections (where there is such depth) to take your thoughts and flesh them into complete ideas.
This type of writing draws insight out of people. It inspires and touches the depths of the heart.
It needn’t be long. It needn’t be ground breaking. But it must be earnest, real, and from the heart in order to draw from the hearts of others.
But then again, there is a third way:
3. You tell me.
The comment box is below.
Photo courtesy of Daniel*1977
Nice trick Scott, to let us come up with number three. I was really expecting to see a third one, having no idea where you would go after number two. By the way, the reaction from Rokkster below kind of counteracts your idea, although you never have a hand in how people will react of course.
Actually thinking about it your Third way is “the” third way. You do let people tell you. I am sorry, but all I can say this time is: “Geat post”
Like you say, it's a trick – because it is actually the third way
What do you think about a comment driven blog? That is an experiment
thy my friend Robin Dickinson is doing at http://www.RADSmarts.com
Have a look and then let me know what you think
Scott
So simple but great. Not only does Robin do exactly what you are saying above Scott, but he does also what we talked about the other day: he makes the conversation equal. Most blogs try to tell people something new, but Robin lets his readers do the talking, is only interested in what they have to say and asks them to elaborate. I am immediately off to rewrite the intro to my blog. Thanks!
Yeah, Robin and I talk a lot – we had the idea of “a comment driven blog” and Robin has made it happen. We both continually re-write our blog intros
Doesnt this depend on what your writing? i know for me it totally depends on the content of the actual post, whether to start the conversation OR tell a story… i guess that is what a blog is for. On the subject of this how do you preach in your church are you a glass half full or half empty kinda guy?
Great post, Scott.
My background tends to have me live in the space of your first type and I'm now moving more towards #2 for reasons of personal satisfaction and encouraging connection and dialogue (which I want to see much more of in the world of money and small business)
Honestly though, I'm finding the shift in approach hard to master – and I realise this is simply because it's new ground for me. It is very rewarding, so I'm going to keep going on this strategy, with the occasional full-content versions.
I appreciate you creating the distinctions here.
Thanks again,
Kate
Mate, I really appreciate you stimulating these ideas. Your point about 'continually re-writing' is important. Innovation must include experimentation, and a preparedness 'to get it wrong'. By far the majority of my approaches to blogging have failed, capital F. But F also stands for fun, and playing around with formats.
Great discussion here.
Thanks,
Robin
Scott, Kate is a good friend of mine and her posts are outstanding!
Best, Robin
Hey Kate, thanks for the honesty and openness.
I think it *is* hard to shift to number 2. It requires:
- selflessness, bc you aren't preaching about everything you know
- thought, bc you must convey depth to create hungry
- clarity, bc it must be remembered and concise to hit the nerve
- relavant, bc it must be applicable
Much of these, despite what people say, are not pillars of 'popular blogging'. Pop blogging is:
- all about the writer
- simple truths that have little depth (and are an easy read)
- provide a short term 'hit' to solve long term problems
- use the bloggers own products to solve problems
What's happening at Robin's blog in particular is amazing. It's no longer Robin's blog – it's the communities. He provides a deep, short post that creates hunger.
Whenever I see '.com.au', I know they're friends of yours
Hey Al – yes, there is a time when it depends.
Teaching is when you expound the fullness and the mechanics of a truth.
Preaching is when you create hunger.
As for glass half empty / half full. Preaching would not be about how full the glass is – it would be about how to fill it, and keep it full
Hey, failure is just when you don't get up and carry on any more, right?